How can I, as an autistic student, manage the social demands of studying and my energy levels to get through university without becoming exhausted?

Hello, 

Thank you for your question. 

As you describe, autism can make it particularly energy-consuming to manage the combined demands of studying, social interactions, adapting to changes in routines, coping with sensory input, and handling all the other responsibilities of daily life. It sounds both wise and necessary to plan for recovery and to find ways of working that suit your needs. 

I will divide my answer into the three areas you mention at the end of your question.

1) Strategies for managing your energy 

A good starting point is to identify which situations tend to be most energy-demanding for you. Once you have an overview, you can plan accordingly and schedule recovery time in the same way that you would schedule lectures or study sessions. For example, you could: 

• schedule recovery time after lectures, group work, and other socially demanding activities 

• avoid arranging several energy-intensive activities on the same day 

• establish clear routines for studying, meals, sleep, and breaks 

• break larger tasks into smaller, more manageable steps 

• use study environments with as few distracting stimuli as possible 

Pay attention to signs of overload, such as increased fatigue or difficulty concentrating. These may be signals that you need to reduce demands on yourself for a period of time. 

Even with good structure and planning, you may sometimes find that your energy does not stretch far enough. In that case, it can be helpful to book an appointment with a study adviser to discuss possible adjustments to your study plan, such as postponing a course component.  

You can also contact the course coordinator or another relevant lecturer to explain that your disability affects your ability to manage your time and energy. In some cases, there may be flexibility around deadlines, and extensions for assignments may be possible. 

2) Accessing appropriate support and accommodations 

Because you have a long-term disability, you are eligible to apply for disability-related educational support at your university. Applications are usually made through your institution’s disability support service. Support may include exam accommodations, note-taking assistance, or other individual adjustments that make studying more manageable. The specific accommodations available to you will be assessed by the relevant disability support coordinator at your institution. 

It may also be helpful to seek additional support. If you have access to healthcare services, you can contact a primary care provider regarding difficulties related to mental health, stress, or everyday functioning. An occupational therapist may be able to offer practical tools and guidance for energy management, planning, and daily structure. 

There may also be study skills or academic support services available through your university, sometimes through the library, learning support centres, writing centres, or similar services. 

Depending on where you study, individual support may also be available through the student health services. 

3) Coping with the social demands of student life 

University life involves a considerable amount of social interaction and meeting new people. In addition to communication with lecturers and classmates, there may be social activities outside your studies. This can be challenging when social interaction requires a great deal of energy. 

When it comes to group work, it can help to make expectations as clear as possible. You can encourage the group to clarify anything that is unclear, for example by discussing: 

• roles and responsibilities 

• how tasks will be divided 

• deadlines for different stages of the project 

• how communication within the group will take place.  

You could also suggest ending each meeting with a brief summary of what has been decided. 

In your communication with lecturers, email can be a useful alternative if face-to-face conversations require a lot of energy. Written communication may also make information clearer and reduce the need to remember what has been said. 

When it comes to socialising with fellow students, it is important to consider both your interests and your available energy. If you only have the capacity for the social interaction required for coursework or group projects, that is perfectly acceptable. You do not have to push yourself into activities you do not want to participate in. However, if socialising is something you would like more of, you might consider planning it for weekends if weekdays are already too demanding. 

This is by no means an exhaustive answer, and it is difficult to tailor strategies to your specific needs without knowing more about your situation. However, I hope you have found at least some ideas that may be useful and that you are able to access additional support in finding strategies that work for you. 

Best of luck with your studies! 

Licensed Psychologist